News-Review wins big in New York better newspaper contest

Times Review Media Group, publisher of the Riverhead News-Review, took home 66 awards in the New York Press Association’s 2015 Better Newspaper Contest, the results of which were announced this past weekend.

The company’s newspapers — which also include The Suffolk Times and Shelter Island Reporter — earned more points in the contest than any other publisher for the third consecutive year.

“It is a tremendous honor for our dedicated team to receive all of these awards,” said Times Review publisher Andrew Olsen. “We are constantly pushing ourselves to get better and produce more engaging community journalism for our readers. We are incredibly proud to be recognized as some of the best in the state.”

All three newspapers placed for the Past Presidents’ Award for General Excellence — the only category to judge all the elements of a newspaper — with first place going to The Suffolk Times, third place to the Reporter and honorable mention to the News-Review.

“A great product in a competitive category; headlines are especially strong,” one judge said of the News-Review.

The Suffolk Times and News-Review also won first and second place awards, respectively, in the Advertising Excellence category.

Staff photographer Barbaraellen Koch earned an honorable mention for Photographer of the Year, which was among the top awards earned by an individual at the media group. Ms. Koch joined the Times Review staff in 1992 and this marks the first time she has earned the honor.

The News-Review won first place awards for Overall Design Excellence, Spot News Coverage, Headline Writing, Editorial Cartoon and Best Overall Use of Social Media.

The Suffolk Times won first place awards for Coverage of Crime/Police/Courts, Sports Feature, In-Depth Reporting, Editorials, Best Overall Mobile Experience, Feature Photo, Sports Action Photo, Picture Story, Graphic Illustration and Special Sections/Niche Publications.

It was again a strong showing for East End media. The Sag Harbor Express was named Newspaper of the Year for the second time in three years and earned the Stuart C. Dorman Award for Editorial Excellence for the fourth time since 2000. Press News Group of Southampton earned the second most total contest points of any multi-flag newspaper publisher.

“We are so happy for our friends on the South Fork,” said Times Review executive editor Grant Parpan. “The Sag Harbor Express winning Newspaper of the Year? Yeah, that sounds about right. They are so good at everything they do.”

Members of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association judged the 177 newspapers in the contest, reviewing 2,830 entries in 64 categories.

The awards were presented at the New York Press Association Convention Friday and Saturday in Saratoga Springs. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara served as keynote speaker during the convention.